Preconference Seminars - Monday, October 29, 2012

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

SM1: Encoding for Flash, Mobile, and HTML5

Learn the technological fundamentals behind encoding for both H.264 and WebM formats. Learn how to encode H.264 for HTML5 distribution and streaming to iOS and other mobile devices, as well as how to encode it for Flash, including live, on-demand, and RTMP, as well as HTTP-based adaptive streaming. For WebM, learn the basics of on-demand streaming, plus get a look at live WebM encoders. Finally, get an update on how to stream adaptively to all these targets. PRESENTER: Jan Ozer, Principal, Doceo Publishing

As the online video world increasingly moves to HTML5 for online video experiences, it's more important than ever to properly plan your online video deployment before you start encoding your content. In this workshop, you learn how to evaluate the various mobile and desktop browser targets that your viewers will use to watch your content, and develop a feature matrix of capabilities available on those browsers. Next, you learn how to plan the server technology you will use to deliver the content: standard HTTP delivery (or progressive download), streaming technologies such as Apple HTTP Live Streaming (HLS), and Adobe HTTP/RTMP Dynamic Streaming. You also learn which video analytic technologies will work best with the various deployment paths you choose for your content.

There are many encoding options for streaming media and numerous media player options, but relatively few media server options. Which one is best for you? If you already know the basics of streaming media technologies, this workshop will take you to the next level. Learn about how to deploy streaming media servers for various scenarios, including live and on-demand streaming both inside your company network and on the web. Also learn about cloud-based solutions that enable the delivery of TV-like experiences (including closed captioning) to multiple devices, find out how to protect your content, and gain knowledge of upcoming server and cloud technologies.

The capabilities of HTML5 web browsers, both on mobile devices and desktops, is changing rapidly. As a video content producer, you need to have a video player that can respond to these changes as browser vendors release new features. But how do you plan for uncertainty? In this session, we review popular video player frameworks such as those provided by jPlayer (jQuery plug-in), MediaElement.js, Video.JS, JWPlayer, and others. You also learn how to pick the proper media encoding strategy for your video distribution needs and how to plan for scaling video content types as browser features such as MPEG-DASH begin to emerge.

TV Everywhere has changed the model for studios to drive consumers to their content. Join cable, studio, and digital distribution executives as they discuss how Facebook and mobile discovery apps are playing a role in helping movie viewers find what they want and share what they like, and see how satellite and cable providers are driving people to rent and buy movies digitally. Panelists showcase real-life examples and case studies, as well as provide expert guidance in terms of both planning for and implementing successful strategies and tactics to boost exposure and discoverability.

In a world cluttered with badges, check-ins, stickers, hashtags, likes, plusses, apps, and so many other terms, is there any real money being exchanged in the world called Social TV? Are users “engaging” with “conversations” about “social” programming, or are they sitting on their couch texting with their friends? TV is inherently a social medium, and people are tweeting and liking things, so there’s some smoke—but where’s the fire? This panel dives into the fire and tries to emerge with some real answers about what’s happening today and where the business opportunities are tomorrow.

A102: ROUND TABLE: Balancing the Viewer Experience and the Need to Monetize

Making business decisions around the usability and the user experience for consuming video is often limited by budget, technical limitations of consumer devices, and business rules around the consumption of media. This session touches on issues such as design and usability in conjunction with technical features such as ad integration, security concerns, and inclusion of social media functionality, as we examine the needs of content owners versus the desires of consumers.

The TV industry operates on perpetually shrinking margins, and each year seeks out the “hot new thing” that will increase revenue, decrease buying cycles, and otherwise help contribute to the bottom line. In the era of smart TVs, however, consumers have a challenging value proposition today, with limited features and built-in fear of future obsolescence. Our group of consumer electronics pros has a hearty discussion to get to the bottom of what should be done with smart TVs. Do people want them, or do they just want “feature” TVs? Will fragmentation kill the industry before it even really gets off the ground? Is smart the new 3D or the new HD?

The industry has been buzzing about the potential offered by MPEG-DASH as a complementary format that brings together the various adaptive bit-rate (ABR) specifications in use by the industry today. This panel discussion takes a fresh look at the key questions that were posed when MPEG-DASH came on the scene and sees what answers we have found. Panelists also tackle the next round of topics as we head toward mainstream adoption of DASH technology. What’s the technical reality in terms of encoding and players? Who is deploying DASH? Are there any early results in? And what can we expect over the next year?

Is your video workflow capable of delivering live, multiplatform video to a global connected audience cost effectively and at scale? JoinMio Babic, President and CEO of iStreamPlanet, Eric Black, VP of Technology of NBC Sports and Jason Mendenhall, EVP of Switch, moderated by The Diffusion Group’s AndyTarczonas they discuss the next generation of multiplatform live video workflow services- acquisition to analytics. Panelists will discuss the move from hardware dependent infrastructure to software and cloud-based solutions, and the unique challenges for the premium content provider delivering OTT video to a rapidly growing audience.

To make the DASH standard useful in the real world, a number of key industry players are defining a practical subset of the standard to serve as a baseline for device implementations. In this session, attendees learn what feature capabilities are available with DASH (multi-bitrate, multi-language, multi-channel, common encryption, trick modes) and how these are being defined and presented as a set of conformance and interoperability tests. If you need to ensure that DASH will work with your encoder, CDN, playback device or website, this is the session for you.

B103: ROUND TABLE: Is There a Killer App for TV, Or Is TV the Killer App?

Some say the future of TV is the TV itself being relegated to just being “an app” that can run on any screen you own. Others believe the TV is king, and we’ll see a deluge of apps on smart TVs and second screens to enhance or even create new experiences. We can already see service providers such as Comcast and Time Warner releasing apps on TVs, and on the flipside, YouTube has its own lean-back experience. This discussion addresses content, distribution, and consumer-facing challenges of TV in an app world.

Streaming Encoder This session discusses factors to consider when choosing a live streaming encoder, starting with free or inexpensive software options to high-volume, big iron systems, including quality, performance, portability, features, and format support. The session also examines how new cloud- based features such as live transrating are changing the requirements for on-location encoding. If you’re considering buying hardware or software for producing live events, you’ll find this session particularly useful.

As you look for a unified, “any-screen” streaming media delivery solution, how can you reduce the complexity and cost while reaching more and more devices? Come learn about how to use the latest cloud offerings from Amazon and Microsoft to deliver live, on-demand, and time- shifted video and audio content to your end users, whether they are all in one region or spread across continents. If you already know the basics of streaming, join us in this session to see how to get started today with cloud-based media delivery.

B104: ROUND TABLE: The Future of Digital Entertainment in a Multiscreen World

This panel of leading service operators and content owners discusses how they solve some of the challenges in delivering the creator’s intended entertainment experience across new devices and consumer use cases. The panel also shares their vision on where the future of digital entertainment is heading and key industry drivers that could enable the next-generation entertainment experience on mobile and tablet devices.

This session focuses on how programmers and aggregators monetize TV Everywhere deployments. As more live, linear broadcasts (and networks) are deployed on secondary screens, the need for ad insertion/ replacement models is emerging. What are the functional building blocks required to originate the signal and stream? How are the ad breaks recognized and marked— and what happens in order to repurpose the broadcast ads for these additional screens? This session explores the technical workflows, business requirements and rules, and “need to know” elements to help get a video ad deployment up and running.

There has been a lot of discussion around how to provide measurable metrics for online video, with many companies such as Nielsen and comScore evolving to be the standard. But, with the industry overflowing with data, perhaps the issue is not that there aren’t measurement methods, but rather that there is no online video “currency” that is currently accepted by all. This session explores the efforts behind qualifying audiences for agencies and advertisers, and how it translates back to its effect on delivering streaming video to consumers.

Learn the technological fundamentals behind encoding both H.264 and WebM formats for playback with the HTML5 tag. Learn the basics of H.264 and WebM encoding and how to produce it for HTML5 distribution. In addition, see how the various H.264 and WebM encoding tools compare in regard to performance, quality, and features.

This special event will provide face-to-face access to the forces driving the adoption and success of the DASH standard. Attendees are introduced to leaders from each of the attending MPEG-DASH Industry Forum member companies and given a chance to have a quick one-on-one conversation regarding what the member company’s DASH rollout plans are and how they “fit in” within the overall DASH movement. Open to full-conference attendees and speakers only.

One of the biggest reservations buyers exhibit when it comes to video advertising is the fear of their ad landing in an inappropriate location. This session of buyers, publishers, and tech companies explores the state of video brand safety today and addresses the current fears around available video inventory. They also explore the options advertisers have for controlling their ads and how video can move toward 100% brand-safe ad buying.

B201: ROUND TABLE: Deconstructing Content Offerings for the Second Screen

Surveys today show that an increasing amount of TV watching is done with a “second screen” in hand. Some of that time is work, Words With Friends, and throwing birds at pigs, but the rest of it is users beginning to engage with the content in some manner. Second-screen offerings can really complement some content, such as sports and reality TV shows. For others, it’s a distracting mess. This session focuses on how to separate the signal from the noise by identifying the right kinds of content and how to optimize a second-screen experience to win with audiences.

This session focuses on the different methods and approaches to producing a live event from a production planning perspective. Learn the best practices for interfacing with event video production teams, what streaming infrastructure choices you have, what a realistic timeline and budget are, and what technology you need to know about. Learn the steps and choices you need to make in advance to make your live streaming event a success.

With all the device fragmentation in the market, it is getting increasingly difficult to provide content to all of them equally. The MPEG-DASH specification promises to unify the field and provide a ubiquitous format, which can be used by most devices. Within the DASH specification, several different Codec’s can potentially be supported, but among the most promising is DASH-264, which uses H.264 within the DASH standard. This technical session explores how to build a DASH-264 player using OSMF. This will be most useful for ActionScript developers familiar with Adobe’s Open Source Media Framework.

In the past year, we’ve cluttered iPads and smartphones with dozens of TV-related apps. Some are still kicking, some barely have a pulse, and some are the former “hot new things” gone cold and dead. What is there to learn from all this? Is there a one-size-fits all answer or approach to TV apps? Is there an uber-TV app coming, or are we destined to have a dedicated app for each TV show we like, each network we watch, each movie we see, etc?

A203: [THIS PRESENTATION WAS CANCELED DUE TO THE HURRICANE] CASE STUDY: Building & Deploying HTML 5 Video Experiences at Viacom

If you distribute or produce content that will be digitally consumed, you are faced with preparing your media for a multitude of screens. From Android-based tablets to the iPad, iPhone 4, and beyond, mobility is the new video frontier. So what’s the right strategy to reach all these devices? How many variants of one clip must a publisher create? Which platforms will yield the greatest uptake? In this session, industry leaders with hands-on experience answer these questions and provide a best-practices approach to help you develop your content to multiple devices.

OTT Environments Formulating the availability of content to consumers is complex when traditional television distribution agreements affect the access rights to content across tablets, mobile phones, and other internet connected devices. This session discusses how some content owners are navigating a new age of distribution, security and conditional access in a multiscreen world.

This session features new product demos from Vizio, showcasing its new $99 Co-Star streaming box, and Livestream, which demos its new $495 Livestream Broadcaster. See both of these devices in action and get your questions answered by company executives.

A204: HOW-TO: Best Practices for Measuring Performance of Streaming Video

In this presentation, you'll learn about best practices for measuring and monitoring the quality of your videos streamed to end-users. We will provide practical guidance using external agent-based measurements and real user monitoring techniques, and discuss CDN architectures and how they relate to performance measurement. Finally we'll walk through real-world CDN performance monitoring implementations used by Amazon CloudFront customers for video delivery.

B204: ROUND TABLE: Best Practices for Migrating to a Cloud-Based Encoding Platform

With a large number of cloud-based encoding platforms on the market, many content owners are now looking at cloud-based transcoding systems. This session explores the challenges and hurdles faced by industry professionals in migrating their content to the cloud. Learn the best practices for adopting and implementing cloud encoding from a tactical and operational perspective.